Area Briefs

August 30, 2001

CLOSING REMINDER. The Williamsburg/James City County Community Center will be shut down for annual maintenance through Monday. The front desk will remain open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. to handle registrations and pass management. All Williamsburg/James City County Community Center passes will be honored at James River Community Center, which will open at 6 a.m. during this time only.

JCC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. The Citizen Leadership Academy is a blending of two programs - Neighborhood College and the Leadership Development Program. The first session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Classes begin with a supper. With the exception of some special events, the sessions will be held at the Human Services Center, 5249 Olde Towne Road, on alternate Tuesday evenings.

Topics include leadership in the community as well as neighborhoods; communicating with elected and appointed officials; running effective meetings; and planning for the future. Citizens will also participate in a county tour lead by department managers. The Leadership Academy is open to all county residents, and there is no charge. For more information or to register for the program, contact the Neighborhood Connections Office at 229-7630.

LECTURE SERIES. Colonial Williamsburg will present a series of weekly lectures highlighting the 75th anniversary of the foundation's restoration. The five-part series will be held at 4 p.m. in the Hennage Auditorium, DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the cost is included in museum admission. The lectures will feature experts from Colonial Williamsburg and abroad. The series will include:

For more information, call toll-free 1-800-HISTORY (447-8679) or visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.org.

ANTIQUES ON THE ROAD. Manorhouse Assisted Living at Kingsmill will host Antiques on the Road featuring Ken Farmer from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Farmer is a guest appraiser on the popular PBS series "Antiques Roadshow" and appears on "Ken Farmer's Auctions and Appraisals."

People in attendance will have the opportunity to bring in one antique piece and have it appraised by Farmer. However, Manorhouse encourages early registration, as limited time allows for a maximum of 50 appraisals. For more information or to reserve space, call 221-0018.

COMTE DE GRASSE. The Comte de Grasse Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its annual National Defense Dinner at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at Port of York Club, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Yorktown. The guest speaker is the commanding officer, Capt. John Gentile. At the dinner, all Korean War veterans present will be honored with a special lapel pin presented by the Yorktown Historical Committee. For more information, call Dorcas Duncan Kenne at 877-0394.

SAFE BOATING. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 67 with the James City County Parks and Recreation Department and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will host a "Boating Skills and Seamanship" course 6:45-9 p.m. from Sept. 10 to Oct. 29 at the Human Services Building on Olde Towne Road, James City County. For more information, call Bob Murden at 220-3699.

GRANTS AVAILABLE. The Williamsburg Area Alliance for the Mentally Ill is accepting mini-grant applications to advocate and promote mental health and/or provide services or equipment for programs serving the seriously mentally ill population. Grants will be available on a competitive basis and will not exceed $500. All private and nonprofit agencies are invited to apply by calling the local chapter secretary, Trish Stulb, at 220-3200 or by contacting WAAMI at P. O. Box 89, Williamsburg 23187.

Awards will be reviewed by the Williamsburg Area Alliance for the Mentally Ill Review Board and awarded based on completion of the application and value of the proposal in meeting the need of those affected by a serious mental illness. Grants were made possible through WAAMI's annual 5K Run for Mental Health. This annual event is held each May on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital and is sponsored by the Colonial Services Board and the Colonial Road Runners.

WAAMI is a local, nonprofit advocacy and support group dedicated to promoting treatment and preventing mental illness.

SOCCER REGISTRATION. James City County Parks and Recreation is taking registrations for the Coed Youth Soccer League. The league is for boys and girls, first through ninth grades. Deadline to register is 5 p.m. Wednesday. Cost is $27 per person. Register at Williamsburg/James City Community Center, Long-hill Road, Williamsburg. For more information, call 259-4198.